Just about every other player in the country would give their arm to have their team play in the prestigious game, but Oregon seems to take it for granted. Without any sort of playoff system, the argument has been made over the years that any bowl that's not the national championship game is merely a consolation game.

While that's true to some extent in that teams aren't potentially playing for a national championship, bragging rights are on the line and bowl wins are a point of pride for most programs.

The comments from Oregon players surely reflect the sentiments of others at top-tier programs, but it's interesting to hear them expressed explicitly. Huff and Thomas' remarks make it seem as though the Ducks are playing in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

While it may be disappointing considering the standards Oregon has set in the last half-decade, it's a slap in the face to everyone else in the country to vocalize that sentiment. Oregon's players need to realize how truly fortunate their team is to be in position to play in one of sport's most prestigious games — even more so this year, the 100th edition of the Rose Bowl .

The College Football Playoff will alleviate a bit of this next year, opening up the national championship to more teams, but those left out of the top four will have similar thoughts.

– Myerberg interviewed UCLA coach Jim Mora and the results were fantastic. Asking about the team's run defense, Mora was informed the Bruins rank in the bottom half of the country. His reponse? "I was going to say I feel like we do a pretty good job stopping the run, now I can't say that. I'm serious. You got me."

No. 13 Michigan State (9-1, 6-0) at Northwestern (4-6, 0-6), 12 p.m. ET, ESPN: The Spartans try to clinch their division against a Northwestern team that has lost all six conference games after starting 4-0. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 5 Oregon (9-1, 6-1) at Arizona (6-4, 3-4), 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC: Stanford's loss gave Oregon the lead in the Pac-12 North and the Ducks square off with an Arizona team that has lost two in a row. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 8 Missouri (9-1, 5-1) at Ole Miss (7-3, 3-3), 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN: The Tigers have to battle through Ole Miss and Texas A&M in the final two games of the regular season, currently holding a one-game lead in the SEC East. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 17 Wisconsin (8-2, 5-1) at No. 23 Minnesota (8-2, 4-2), 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN: Wisconsin has a chance for an at-large BCS berth and will probably need to win out, facing a Minnesota team that has won its last four. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 22 Arizona State (8-2, 6-1) at No. 14 UCLA (8-2, 5-2), 7 p.m. ET, FOX: The Sun Devils lead the Bruins by one game in the Pac-12 South, and this game may be the division's decisive contest. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 4 Baylor (9-0, 6-0) at No. 9 Oklahoma State (9-1, 6-1), 8 p.m. ET, ABC: In the game that will very likely decide the Big 12, Baylor puts its undefeated season and national title hopes on the line in Stillwater. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)